'Now we are back in third with three games to play and two of those are at home. Those next two will be very important. The main difference this season is that when we have to dig in, we do.
'I don't accept that we have made ourselves favourites for the Champions League place, but it is in our own hands.'
Magnificent Gary Walsh looked like he was on a personal mission to shut out Liverpool, with the occasional bit of help from centre halves Rob Molenaar and Andy Myers, and it was even tempting at one stage to imagine that the visitors might just be feeling the strain of their tough programme.
That was McAllister's cue. His 47th- minute pass to release Owen was sublime and the England striker outpaced Myers to fire beyond Walsh and break the deadlock.
It was all over once McAllister had delivered the sweetest free kick from outside the area to beat Walsh, although Liverpool did have a scare when Sander Westerveld caught a Jamie Carragher backpass - he was booked for dissent - then Carragher appeared to handle Beni Carbone's free kick. Jeff Winter would have none of it, and Liverpool were home and dry.
